Ohhh, how well I remember that tough Kansas grass/greenwhateverish and how it would grow rank and gleeful during the sporadic episodes of downpour. And how the sweat would run into one's eyes during the laughable pretense that a lawnmower could "mow" this "lawn." Ha. Out here in PA, the grass is so meek. Half the lawn isn't even grass--it's moss and bits of twig and acorn in the shade of the trees.

I also loved your stories of car repair. (Again, one of those things that are more fun to watch than to participate in . . .) It reminded me of living back in Michigan, where our next-door neighbor was a dear friend, and he and the Sparrowhawk used to operate what I dubbed "The Neaderthal Bump and Dent Shop" after they took an errant bumper off and pounded it out in the sandpit of the school next door, with a sledge hammer and a mallet . . . .

Anyway, you are one hardworking boy!